Aquatic



M. KATZMAREK.

AQUATIC APPLIANCE. APPLICATION FILED ocr. al, Isla.

Patented ot.14,1919.

ATTORNFYr IIIIIIlllIlllII\IIIIIIIIIIHN.HHIIIUUHIV\ 1III mIjI/IIRIA vLANnGR/IPI cd.. wAsnlNnToN. DI ceiner MICHAEL KATZIVIABEK, OF DU L TH, MINNESOTA.

AQUATIC APPLIANGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 14., 1919.

Application filed October 31, 1918. Serial No. 260,524.

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in aquatic appliances, for assisting a person or a swimmer in supporting` himself in, or in moving through the water, and has as its special object to provide a device which may be readily applied person so as to make said device substantially stationary therewith, ing an expansible curved like element attached to a supporting band, which is adapted to act in the manner of a continuous blade, offering a desir( ble opposing or propulsive effect to the water upon the downward or outward stroke of the limbs, and which when a reverse movement is made holds closely adjacent to the exterior of the limbs so as to offer but little resistance to the water.

A further object is to provide such devices in a form which may be easily manufactured, and readily applied; inexpensive in their nature; and which may be used without previous experience.

These and other like objects are attained by the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying` drawings forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fra-gmental vertical sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmental extended plan view showing a modified form of the apparatus.

1n the preferred form, a belt or band 10, attached at its adjoining ends by snap-fasteners or buttons 11, is adapted to be secured adjustably to the limb of the wearer by means of the lacing 12, so as to remain fixedly in position. ln spaced intervals upon the exterior of the band are metallic reinforcing plates 14, secured by rivets or like fasteners 15, and having a. raised loop or eye 16, in which is pivotally engaged in the manner of an entering end 18, a curved hook-line member 20, a reinforcing plate 21, being supplied upon the inner side of the band 14.

to the lower limbs of aV said device havrlhe extending ends 0f the hook 20 are formed into elongated rods 22, secured by continuous rows of stitchings 23 t0 the element 25, which is also attached to the band 'at its upper end by the lower row of stitching 26and forms a skirt-like member depending from the band, it being understood that the lower or bottom edge of the element may be extended angularly outward, during operation as at a down stroke 0f the swimmers limbs while the opposite up stroke causes the element 25 to hold closely adjacent to the limb. As shown 4quite clearly in theV drawings the point of connection o the element 25 to the band 10 is a slight distance below the point at which each rod 22 is pivoted by its hook 20 to the band. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide the cheek to the outward movement of the rods necessary t0 insure against one or more of the rods swinging completely back before the entire element has been extended outward by the water pressure. This arrangement is exceedingly simple, and offers no additional projecting parts, and is of adequate strength, since it is only required to check the outward movement until the element fills out when the pressure is evenly balanced therearound. This element 25 is preferably plaited upon itself, its bottom edge being formed considerably wider than its top edge which is secured to the band 10, so that as pressure is exerted against the water in a down or outward stroke, it will expand outwardly and offer great resistance to the water. This element 25 is also split vertically in line with the split in the band 10 whose edges are united by the fasteners 11, the edges of the element 25 being united by the snap fasteners 27.

In the adaptation shown in Fig. 3 the rods 22, are to be inclosed in cases 28 secured to the element 25, while in place of the lacing 12, a plurality of clips 30, are secured to the band 10, through which is passed a strap 31, provided with lan engaging buckle 32 at one end, and a reinforced loop 33 at the other end, capable of being passed through the eye of the buckle. The rod 22 is also provided with a T-shaped head 36, which works in a plurality of eyes 341, 35, formed upon the plates 14.

In other respects the construction remains the same as before described. From the foregoing it can be readily seen that a device is presented which will eectively progress of a swimmer, the device offering n0 impediments to the free and uninterrupted use ofH the linibs, While the parts are so-arranged soas notfto.V

interfere With each other. Y

Having thus described my invention,

Y what I claim asnew and desire vto secure by LettersPatent is:

l. -An .aquatic appliance comprising ova brand adapted to be aiXed to skirt-like member. tothe band.'

, 2. yAn aquatic appliance fcomprising a Copiesofiths patent, may be obtained f o'rvfive cents'feach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Y Washingtom D. 0; Y

Y ln'forcing person or persons, and alsoto ma-` lskirt-like member ,being flocated 'attachmentzof' the skirt-like member'to the band, for the purpose set'forth.

Intestimony whereof I have signed my vname tolth-is speeication in the presence of .a Wearers Y limb, 'a skirt-like member secured at itsuprper edge tofsaidband, .and a series offrods `secured, throughout their lengths to lsaid skirt-like member, and pivoted -at points above theline of attachment ofthe to said band t Hband adapted to be aHiXed to a Wearers limb, Said band Y having a plurality of replates spaced therearound, a secured at its upper edge to said band, and a series offrods secured throughout their lengths to said skirt-like member,4 said rods having hooks formed on (their'upperendsand a series of eyes formed on the said reinforcing plates t0 Which the said hooks are, pivotallyl attached, said eyes lat ,points above the line of two subscribing Witnesses,this 21st day of December, 1917.7,

' {MICHAEL KATZMAREK. :Witnesses: Y

NVILLIAM E. RICHARDS, yJEWEL D. CUMMINGS. 

